Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder ($29.00 for 0.20 oz.) is described as a “soft pink shimmer with golden iridescent sparkle.” It’s a pink-peach with a golden shimmer-sheen with larger gold sparkle and a frosted, slightly metallic, sheen. Tom Ford Beauty Highlighter (Softcore) (LE, $55.00) is lighter, less sparkly. Urban Decay Streak Highlighter (P) is pinker, finre shimmer. bareMinerals The Many Splendors #2 (LE) is less sparkly. MAC Talk of the Town (LE, $27.00) is darker swatched but looks similar applied. Le Metier de Beaute Whisper (P, $30.00) is less sparkly. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Like the original (now called Luminous, this has an abundance of sparkle and a more metallic finish. I’m always surprised that it doesn’t create hyper-awareness of pores, just because it looks like a glitter-fest in the pan and when swatched, but I think that a lot of the sparkle gets trapped between the bristles of the brush (both the included one, hidden underneath the powder that Urban Decay created as well as any brush I use from my own stash) so less makes it onto the face. It does slightly emphasize pores even with a light application. It had semi-opaque color coverage with a very finely-milled and silky texture, but it was powder, so despite seeming to have a lot of payoff, only some of it adheres to the skin (the rest blends away, you could even just blow it away). There is a lot of excess powder that gets kicked up the moment anything touches the surface of the powder. You may want to use a stippling or less dense brush with this, as a brush picks up more product than most will probably want applied, given how metallic the finish runs. The sparkle is mostly visible in the sunlight, where the light reflects and catches on it, but it’s more of a frosted sheen under most lighting conditions. It wore well for seven hours on me before it started to fade. It has the same suede-like exterior packaging as the original release.
Aura
PPermanent. $30.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
It looks beautiful on you, Christine, but I think this is a bit dark for my skin tone and a bit too sparkly. Interesting that it can have that much sparkle and not make pores more visible. They must be on to something clever in the formula!
I really think a lot of the sparkle just gets lost on its way to the face, which helps it look less emphasizing on the whole!
Ooh this looks pretty on you! Not sure how it would look on my pale skin though!
I think it could work!
It does look pretty glittery in the swatch. But it’s so beautiful when applied! It gives off such a pretty glow.
I did like it on more than I thought I would!
It looks a darker like a bronzer in the plan but once its on the skin it sheers out to a pink. How does it compare to Soft and Gentle MSF by Mac?
Soft & Gentle is way more beige.
Too bad it emphasizes pores, the color is lovely!
I wish it was less metallic!
This wouldn’t look as lovely on me as it does on you I’m sure. That said, now that I know that UD will come to Switzerland soon I’m pretty biased and I’m all of a sudden going crazy over ANYTHING Urban Decay 😉 So somehow this still tickles my fancy.
Yayyyyy!
It’s actually really pretty on you! It’s a shame it doesn’t last a bit longer. Although, the recent Cle de Peau ones have been a hard act to follow! 😉
Thank you, Sylirael! 🙂
I was looking forward to your take on this release.
It looks okay. A little underwhelming. I was expecting more.
Pegging my hopes on the VICE 3 Palette now 🙂
Let’s hope Vice3 lives up to your expectations!
Ohh! Glitter fest is never a good word in my book for a complexion product!
I don’t know why they make these so sparkly!
It’s interesting that it reads pink on your skin but not too pink.
It kind of reminds me of MAC Motif – a golden pink.
The original UD illuminating powder is an exclusive to Ulta – is this going to be the same? I’m really eager to swatch this in a store because I love the original one so much!
Hi Laura,
Both are permanent and will be at all retailers for UD.
It looks so beautiful 🙂 I may need it!!
Let me know if you try it, Shannon!
I don’t have an interest in this product at all, so I’ll be passing!
That’s great!
I so wish this wasn’t glittery and so frosted — not so great for my skin that’s oily and already has large pores as is (and doesn’t need that extra emphasis, haha)! It’s a pretty color otherwise!
I wish UD would go a little lighter on the sparkle!
This really looks beautiful on you, Christine. I am afraid that it would not be subtle enough on my more mature skin. 🙂
It’s definitely not a subtle highlighter!
I think this adds a perfect glow to show off your luminous skin! Are you going to show the lighter one as well, or do you think both are suitable for all skin, perhaps?? 🙂
Hi Lotus,
I reviewed the original when it came out before! 🙂
Thanks! I will look for your review! 🙂
I think this one is a pass for me, though the price is fairly decent as higher end higlighters go. 🙂
That is true – you get a good amount!
I see now. Are these akin to midnight cowboy in the way of micro glitter & shimmer fallout going everywhere? I don’t want a mess. You just wear things well! I pass. Eddie Funkhouser has great highlights 🙂 I’m trying to find a reason to not indulge in CdP.. But I don’t want to miss it like the Dior one.. Any suggestions? Oh!! I’ve been meaning to ask if any know of trusted places to swap/sell ? Thanks! (I’m also thinking next year will have a lot of blue 🙂 ) <3
It’s finer than Midnight Cowboy–more sparkle than glitter–and I find a lot of the sparkly bits don’t make it onto the face (if you’re familiar with some of NARS’ glittery blushes, they apply similarly). You have to love a pretty obvious, metallic highlighter to get behind the UD ones, IMO. Cle de Peau is subtle, glowy – I find it very beautiful applied – but the UD is less flattering applied. Aura is prettier on, I think – a little different with the pinky-peach tones at least.
Thanks for the quick response! No disco these days! I fully agree with you about Aura. Very pretty. I’m unsure if it would be like that On my lighter skin.. But, are CdP necessary? Does anything come close? Meteorites? Hourglass ambient powder? BECCA highlighters in liquid or powder? (My mind is reminding me of the pretty packaging and placement of CdP pastel & delicate pink) hmm.. 😉
Do you have MAC Motif? I know you have an extensive stash, so if you have that, I think it is similar in effect and color to Aura, just less shimmery.
I’m SURE you are covered in highlighter options, so I don’t think CdP is going to be life-changing for you, honestly! I think Guerlain and Chanel’s LE highlighters are often similar to it. Ambient Lighting is less shimmery, Becca powder wayyy more shimmery, liquid subtler.
Ahhhh!!! THANK YOU! You successfully have me NOT trying to purchase! THAT IS MAJOR! I thank you SO much! I don’t know if I can avoid the armani liners.. The multiplicity of uses is astounding for those gems! I hope they are available for awhile! Ingenious! <3 U. Thank you. For everything. 🙂
Giorgio Armani’s higher price point usually keeps the products from selling out at lightning speed – at least the eyeliners are more unique in color! Plus, CdP is permanent, so you can always reassess later on, if desired.
It looks nicer on then I thought it would given the description and pan photos…I’ll stick to my Cle de Peau highlighters!
If you have CdP, you would think this was disco-ball central, lol!
This looks stunning on you! So fresh. I really didn’t want to like it!
Thank you, Aamina! ;D
haha I love the over-the-top glitter/metallic finish. My skin is super matte and I find even “shimmer” blushes loose their shimmer on me (which is why I was so disappointed that Rockateur didn’t have that insane shimmer all the way through, it looked great on me until I got past the top layer and now it’s just meh).
Hopefully this one works better for you, Alice 🙂
I really like this! Looks beautiful on you!
Thank you, Marisa!
The lipgloss is pretty too. I picked up Beet It by SMASHBOX and I must say I am pleased with the formula. How do you like them ?
I like them, though I’m not ready to review quite yet!
That’s very pretty!
I like the color but wish it was a bit less sparkly!
It looks beautiful on you! I already own too many powder illuminators though, so I think I’ll spare my wallet the injury. 😛
Aw, thanks Lucia!
A metallic finish, and sparkle and even glittery. No not for me. It looks very pretty on you, I must say. My pores would look like swimmingpools with this! :O
Thank you, Helene! I don’t know why they put the sparkle in, to be honest!
Looks great on you but too shimmery/dark for my pale skin!
Thanks, Erin!
Christine, those earrings! What or who are they? They’re the best thing ever!
Here ya go! https://www.etsy.com/shop/bellaanelajewelry
Urban Decay why do I love you so? Good thing I have tons of highlighters now or my wallet would of been angry with me.
Phew!